SELBY stole a march on their HPH York Vale Cricket League division two rivals by winning the only completed game on a rain-battered Saturday.

Their match at Sandhill Lane was the only one to reach a conclusion as the district was lashed by hail and downpours.

After the covers and water hog did their job, the game was reduced to 30 overs, Selby were restricted to 113-9 with Michael Smales top-scoring with 39. Fifteen-year-old Will Hughes, having his first bowl for Westow, took 3-19 to support Jamie Smith (4-22).

Ten-man Westow looked to be in with a good shout but their inexperienced batting line-up failed to stick around with Matthew Shipley (32) and were bowled out for 93 in 27.4 overs, losing by runs.

Steve Sherwood shone for Selby with 4-8 with Smales and Aidan Pearce chipping in with a couple of wickets apiece.

The only other games to start were in division four where Thorp Arch & Boston Spa struggled to 95-7 against Tadcaster Magnet from their full 40 overs before rain ended the game at tea. That was tough on Steve Bullivant (5-26) who bowled superbly throughout. BBC Radio York breakfast presenter Adam Tomlinson offered the most resistance with an unbeaten 26.

Burton Salmon openers Richard Hnat and Aiden Adrian Davies were still at the crease with 27 on the board when their match against Stamford Bridge at Burythorpe was abandoned after ten overs.

Hemingbrough’s efforts to stage their division three game against Thorpe Willoughby on Sunday paid off with a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Andy Rowley produced superb figures of 12-9-6-2 to pave the way for Granville North to take 4-18 against his former side as Thorpe were bowled out for 69 in 34.1 overs.

Hemingbrough are the only side in the league to have bagged a maximum 90 points from three games.

Among the weather victims was Sunday’s HPH Cup preliminary round game between South Cave & Brantingham and Fulfordgate which will now be played on Sunday, May 18.

Because so few matches were completed over the weekend, no Press Performance of the Week was awarded.

HPH York Vale League

Saturday, May 10

Div 1

Kelfield v Fulfordgate - no play, rain; North Duffield v Bishopthorpe - no play, rain; Ovington v North Cave - no play, rain; Thixendale v Burn - no play, rain.

Div 2

Askham Bryan v Melbourne - no play, rain; Ben Johnson v Stillingfleet - no play, rain; Hirst Courtney v Clifton Alliance - no play rain; Selby 113-9 (M Smales 39; J Smith 4-22, W Hughes 3-19) beat Westow 93 (M Shipley 32; S Sherwood 4-8) by 20 runs; South Cave & Brantingham v Heworth - no play, rain.

Div 3

Bishopthorpe ll v Askham Bryan ll - no play, rain; Ovington ll v Yapham - no play, rain; Stockton & Hopgrove II v Acomb - no play, rain.

Div 4

Burn ll v Pocklington - no play, rain; Malton & Old Malton v Ovington III - no play, rain; Stamford Bridge v Burton Salmon 27-0 - rain stopped play; Thorp Arch & Boston Spa 95-7 (S Bullivant 5-26) v Tadcaster Magnet - rain stopped play; Thorpe Willoughby v Selby ll - no play, rain.

Sunday, May 11

Div 3

Hemingbrough 70-3 beat Thorpe Willoughby 69 (G North 4-18) by 7 wkts.